Endogenous growth factors and their cognate receptors

The term Endogenous growth factors and their cognate receptors refers to a broad pharmacological category rather than a single molecular target. It encompasses a diverse array of secreted proteins, such as Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF), and Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF), along with the cell-surface receptors they activate, primarily receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) (Source: StatPearls, NBK542182). These systems are essential for normal physiological processes including tissue repair, hematopoiesis, and embryonic development by regulating cell growth and survival. In various pathologies, particularly oncology, these pathways are frequently hijacked to support tumor vascularization and uncontrolled proliferation (Source: Nature Reviews Cancer, doi:10.1038/nrc3011). Therapeutic strategies involving this category often focus on either supplementing deficient growth factors to promote healing or inhibiting overactive receptors to treat malignancy and proliferative disorders.

Other names

Growth factor signaling systemEndogenous growth factor modulationReceptor tyrosine kinase signaling pathwaysGrowth factor-receptor complexes

Indirect modulation of cellular signaling by stimulating the production, release, or activity of endogenous ligands that bind to receptor tyrosine kinases or cytokine receptors to initiate downstream cascades such as the MAPK/ERK and PI3K/Akt pathways (Source: PubMed, PMID: 30236157).